Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-13
In THE HOUSE.
A Delegate from "No Mans Lsnd"-The
Election Committee.

Election Committee.
WASHINGTON, December l2.-In the
House number OF executive communica-
tions, principally relative to private land
claims in New Mexico, were laid before
the House by the Speaker and appropri-
ately referred.
Mr.. Springer, Of Illinois, presented the
case of Owen G.. Chase, who claims to be
elected delegate from the territory of
Cimmsron, commonly known as the pub
lie Land Strip" On the old maps it ap-
pears as No Mans Land The name is
derived from the largest river which flows
through the proposed territory. This land
appear on maps at the Interior Department
a. public lands" 1t is parallelogram,
thirty miles wide, larger than the State of
Delaware and nearly as large rs New Jer-
sey. 1t is bounded on the north by Color
ado and Kansas. on the east by the Indian
Territory, on the south by Texas and on
the west by New Mexico. The CimmarOn
river rises near its northwestern boundary
and empties into the Arkansas river in the
Indian Territory. Cimmaron Territory
came into the possession of the United
States in 1919 under what is known as the
Florida treaty with Spain, by which treaty
Florida was secured and Texas was lost.
The proposed Territory Of Cimmaron is the
most symmetrical division of the United
States. Mr.. Chase is Democrat.
In his petition Mr.. Chase details the ef
forts of the people of the Territory-ten
thousond in number who were without
the protection of local or general laws, TO
form u provisional Council aud territor-
ial Government and the success which had
attended them.
After considerable discussion, the reso-
luton and petition were laid upon the
table.
Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan, offered
resolution requesting the Secretary OF War
to cause an examination to be made OF the
harbor OF St. Joseph, Mich, with a view
of finding what further improvements are
there needed. Referred.
At l:l5 p. .p. Speaker Carlisle, having
lett the chair and called upon Mr.. Crisp to
preside, briefly requested the House to re-
lieve him OF the responsibility of appoint
ing the Committee on Elections. He said:
at is well known that there is contest
pending, which makes it improper for as
presiding officer of the House to appoint
the Committee on Elections, / have left
the chair, therefore, for the purpose of
asking the House TO excuse me from
the performance of that duty and take
such proceedings in this matter as its iudg-
ment may dictate. | have no suggestion
to make, except to say that the formation
of the other committees OF the House will
be facilitated by having this matter dis
posed OF at the earliest day that will suit
the convenience Of members.
A resolution was adopted providing that
the House will tomorrow proceed to the
election Of the Committee on Elections,
and the House then adjourned.
Immediately after the adjourn ment OF
the House the Republicans met in caucus
TO select the members who are to constitute
the minority of the Committee on Elections.
The caucus lasted about half an hour, and
nothing wos done the selection of the fol-
lowing representatives, who are all law
yer5, TO serve on the committees; ROwell,
of Illinois; HOuck, of Tennessee; Cooper,
of Ohio; Lyman, of Iowa; Johnson, of
Indiana, aud Lodge, of Massachusetts.
The Democratic Representative in eau
Gus chose the following gentlemen TO con-
s,itute the majority of the Committee on
Elections:
Crisp, of Georgia, chairman; Messrs.
Cultivate, of Ohio; Barry, of Mississippi;
Sperral, of Virginia; Maish, Of Pennsylva-
MIA; O'Neill, of Indiana; Moore, of Texas;
Johnston, of North Carolina, aud Heard,
Of Missouri. Turner, OF Georgia, declined
the Chairrnauship.